by Phillip Starr
My first encounter with what is known as “zanshin” (残心) occurred back in the days when I studied Kyokushin karate. I would complete my kata and my instructor would shake his head and say, “No. Your kata is wrong. There was no zanshin.” When I asked him what that meant he told me that at the end of the form I should maintain and, in fact, extend my fighting spirit as if other opponents might be waiting in the shadows for me to let down my guard so they could quickly attack me. He told me that I should maintain my guard, my spirit, for a few seconds after completion of the kata, imagining that other assailants might be hiding nearby.
When I undertook the study of kung-fu under the tutelage of Master W.C. Chen, I was reminded of this same idea although it had no formal name. Sifu Chen emphasized the importance of beginning each form with the same feeling, that numerous opponents were encircling me. I was to breathe down to my dantien (tanden) and place my spirit there and wait to see which aggressor attacked first.
I was to VISUALIZE these opponents and that required considerable effort. However, once I got the hang of it I discovered that it was an excellent training tool. Any form, whether it is a karate kata, a taijiquan or shaolinquan form, is EMPTY if there is no spirit in it. It's like a doughnut; there's nothing in the middle to give it strength. No zanshin.
Zanshin (which is actually “shengxin” in Chinese) is comprised of two character. The first, “zan”, means “remaining, left over.” The second character, “shin” means “heart.” In this case, shin doesn't refer to the actual organ itself, but to its essence. In traditional Chinese medicine it is felt that the heart is the seat of the emotions and the spirit (as in “fighting spirit”). Put the two together and you have “remaining spirit.”
When I first began to study Japanese kenjutsu and iaido I encountered another feature of this concept. I was informed that zanshin was to be exercised BEFORE the beginning of the kata. I realized then that this powerful mental and spiritual technique should be applied BEFORE assuming the posture we refer to as “commencement.”
Only then did I fully understand the importance of zanshin and how it is to be practiced in all of the martial ways. Whether one if practicing a form or an individual technique, zanshin is to be maintained from the moment one begins until after one has completed the exercise. To do otherwise is to “play” at a sort of mental and spiritual gymnastic exercise, and martial arts is not play. It is to be practiced with deadly seriousness, intention, and FEELING. If the proper feeling isn't there, one is simply exercising rather than training.
It is unfortunate that today's Chinese martial arts practitioners don't even suspect what zanshin (shengxin) is. When told about it, most will simply look rather confused. Others will say that it is a Japanese concept and has no place in the practice of kung-fu. It is this kind of narrow-mindedness that has brought the neijia to a standstill.
In feudal times the practice of zanshin was of paramount importance. If two warriors met on the field of battle, they both extended their spirits to feel the spirit of the other. The slightest distraction, the smallest fear, crack, or flaw in the shengxin of the opponent would result in instantaneous attack! In less than a second, it was over.
Soldiers in our modern military can readily understand this concept. As they prepare to enter hostile territory they prepare themselves both physically and mentally. They achieve a state of shengxin long before the fighting commences. As they move through the area, their zanshin must be very strong. When they move through the battle zone, they must maintain strong zanshin. When the area is declared clear of enemy activity, they would do well to maintain their zanshin for a time.
Modern-day police officers are also familiar with this condition. When an officer approaches a given situation she achieves shengxin immediately. Her senses are on full alert and she is literally prepared for anything. If and when she takes a bad guy down and brings him under control, she must maintain shengxin in case the creep has friends nearby, waiting for her to relax her guard.
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Martial arts practitioners who survived repeated encounters of this sort passed down their art to their students. Through the generations this information has been maintained and the concept and practice of zanshin is one of the most important features. Without this training, we are told, defeat is certain. It is not simply a state of mind that one learns to imitate; it is a very real power, A FORCE ALL ITS OWN, and it must be mastered if one is to truly understand one's art.
Modern combat shooting schools have developed a scale of ascending mental states that are comparable to zanshin:
CONDITION WHITE: No possibility of threat. Completely relaxed. This condition is permitted only during sleep.
CONDITION YELLOW: There is the possibility of danger. Senses alert, but somewhat relaxed. If you're awake; if you're taking a shower, shaving, walking your dog...doing whatever...you must maintain this condition.
CONDITION ORANGE: Danger imminent. Senses on full alert. Zanshin on full alert status.
CONDITION RED: Danger immediate and present. Hostilities have commenced. Everything goes on full-tilt boogie.
When you stand up to execute your form, you should be in Condition Orange. This occurs before Commencement! Just before the first movement, you go into Condition Red. Hostilities begin and you engage in mortal combat. When the fight is over you do not relax completely; you slowly drop down to Condition Orange, execute the Conclusion (closing) of the form, and then go to Condition Yellow (your normal waking condition) before relaxing and sitting down.
Non-warriors live their lives in Condition White, oblivious to danger until it is too late. The warrior knows that the world can be a very hostile, dangerous place and he learns to live in a constant state of zanshin. Some of the best-known warriors of the past even trained themselves to maintain this condition while sleeping!
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So next time you practice your form, exercise your basic techniques, or train with a partner in the various fighting drills, make sure that you maintain a strong zanshin. It isn't as easy to develop as you might think. It requires a great deal of training and must be exercised regularly.
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